SourceUDUPI, INDIA, May 28, 2003: The President of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat, B. Bhujanga Shetty, has said yoga, moral education, and the activities of the Seva Dal (a group committed to do social service) will be made compulsory in government and private schools in the district. Mr. Shetty said the zilla panchayat (village council) had directed the heads of schools…
HPISRIKAKULAM, INDIA, May 30, 2003: The state government has issued notices canceling the deeds of leaseholders of temple lands. Notices were served to beneficiaries who had lease agreements with Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple in Amadalavalasa on Thursday. The decision was taken after the government found that the revenue earned through such lease deeds was minimal. It was found that some…
www.ndtv.comNEW DELHI, INDIA, May 31, 2003: Cutting edge technology meant to detect genetic abnormalities before conception is now being used for the ethically questionable practice of selecting the sex of a child, usually a son. Invitro fertilization (IVF) clinics are now offering would-be parents the means to have a son, and this could have a lasting impact on the increasingly…
SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, June 1, 2003: An HPI reader asked a logical question upon hearing about the $10,000,000 settlement and apology coming from McDonald’s for misleading vegetarians into thinking the company’s french fries were vegetarian. He asked, “Did they take the meat out?” The answer is no. On their list of ingredients (“source” above) is this: “Large French Fries: Potatoes, partially…
SourceBANGALORE, INDIA, May 31, 2003: Faced with acute water scarcity and the prospect of the monsoon being delayed, the Karnataka government is asking temples to conduct pujas to bring rain. Places of worship will reverberate with prayers on June 4 and 5, seeking the assistance of the Gods to solve the crisis as drinking water sources are fast dwindling because…
SourcePAPPANCHAVADI, INDIA, May 30, 2003: The installation of the 36-foot high Viswaroopa, Jayamangala, Panchamuka Sri Anjaneya Swami idol and the Panchamuka Hanumath Yantra in Panchavati Kshethram, popularly known as Pappanchavadi on the Tindivanam-Pondicherry highway via Kilianur, will take place between 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon on June 11, according to S. Ramani Anna, managing trustee, Sri Jayamaruthi Seva Trust and…
SourceUNITED STATES, May 20, 2003: The June issue of National Geographic carries an article on India’s “untouchables.” The on-line home page has drawn criticism for linking the subject of untouchables back to Hinduism as the underlying cause that mandates caste injustice. It is not known whether the article mentions that caste discrimination is perpetrated in India by Christians and Muslims…
SourceSINGAPORE, May 21, 2003: The Singapore army is using computer games, some of them based on commercially available software, to help sharpen the combat skills of its troops, officials said Wednesday. “As part of its continued emphasis to leverage on technology to augment its training, the Army has introduced the use of personal computer (PC) gaming and PC-based simulation to…
Hindu Press InternationalKAUAI, HAWAII, May 29, 2003: McDonald’s corporation is settling a lawsuit brought by vegetarians who were misled into believing McDonald’s french fries were vegetarian when, in fact, they were flavored with beef (see HPI, May 27). Out of the US$10 million, $250,000 was allotted to the Hindu Heritage Endowment (www.hheonline.org/) to endow 1,000 complimentary subscriptions to Hinduism Today…
SourceSRINAGAR, INDIA, May 29, 2003: Over 3,500 pilgrims are expected to take part in the annual Amarnath Yatra that will commence July 12, official sources said here on Thursday. Base camps for the month-long yatra at Nunwan and Baltal will start functioning on July 5. Of the 3,500 pilgrims who will take part in the yatra, 2,700 are scheduled for…